System for securing tubes in a tray

ABSTRACT

A system and apparatus for securely housing small tubes in a tray. The system and apparatus of the instant invention provides a securing mechanism that includes at least one flange an at least one aperture in the tray that connects with a tube and holds the tube securely in the tray. The system and apparatus prevents any tubes from disengaging from the tray during transport. Each aperture in the tray includes a space of sufficient diameter in which to place the tube. At least one stationary catch surrounds the tube once placed therein, thereby securely holding the tube in place and requiring manual force for removal. At least one flexible catch is placed inside the aperture to allow for the secure placement of a tube therein using manual force.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of securingmechanisms, and particularly to a system and apparatus for securingsmall tubes containing small doses of product in a tray wherein thetubes do not disengage from the tray during transport.

2. Background and Description of the Prior Art

In the field of cosmetics, products are often contained in very smallcontainers. This may be the case because only a small amount of theproduct is used at one time. It may also be the case that the product isvery expensive and therefore sold in small, affordable quantities. Itmay also be the case that exposure to a large quantity of the product toambient conditions can degrade and/or contaminate a product. Thereforeit would be advantageous to only expose the amount of product needed foran individual use without exposing a larger sample to ambientconditions, possibly subjecting the entire quantity to degradationand/or contamination. By way of example, a small amount of face creamcan be housed in a small tube for a single use wherein the tube isdiscarded after use and future dosages remain in small tubes withoutexposure of a larger quantity of product to ambient conditions.

In a case where each small dose is housed in a single small tube, itwould be advantageous to have a tray that houses a plurality of thetubes for easy access of each tube. In addition to easy access, theconsumer of the tubes can easily tell when he or she is running low onthe product and when replacement will be needed.

A tray that houses the tubes would optimally hold each tube securelytherein so that the tubes do not fall out of the tray during any type oftransport. It is to be understood, however, that the system andapparatus defined herein for securing tubes containing cosmetic productsto a tray is not limited to any specific product being housed in thetubes. Any product that is packaged in small tubes and that is used in asystem where a plurality of tubes is on hand for regular use couldbenefit from the system and apparatus of the instant invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention comprises a system for the secure placement andtransport of at least one tube, the system comprising the fabrication ofa tray, with the tray further comprising a back wall; a front wall; afirst side wall; a second side wall; and at least one aperture forplacement therein of at least one tube, the aperture further comprisinga hole with a diameter that is sufficient to receive at least one tube;at least one stationary catch positioned in at least one aperture thatsecures at least one tube in place; and at least one flexible catchpositioned in at least one aperture that secures at least one tube inplace; and placement of at least one tube in at least one aperture inthe tray, placing the tube therein with sufficient force to move thetube past at least one flexible catch and secure the tube against atleast one stationary catch in at least one aperture.

A second embodiment teaches an apparatus for the secure placement andtransport of at least one tube, the apparatus comprising a back wall; afront wall; a first side wall; a second side wall; and at least oneaperture for placement therein of at least one tube, the aperturefurther comprising a hole with a diameter that is sufficient to receiveat least one tube; at least one stationary catch positioned in at leastone aperture that secures at least one tube in place; and at least oneflexible catch positioned in at least one aperture that secures at leastone tube in place.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is to bemade to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that thepresent invention is not limited to the precise arrangement shown in thedrawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tray of the instant invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the tray of the instant invention.

FIG. 3 is a close-up top view of one of the securing apertures of thetray of the instant invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of one of the securing apertures of thetray of the instant invention taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

10 apparatus

11 front wall

12 first sidewall

13 back wall

14 second sidewall

15 top of tray

16 aperture

17 tube

18 tip of tube

19 expanded portion of tube tip

20 area above expanded portion of tube tip

21 center hole

22 center guides (a,b,c)

23 shoulder of tube tip

24 body of tube

25 flexible catch member

26 sidewall between guides 22 c-22 b-22 a

27 cylindrical sidewall of hole

28 stationary catch member

29 first connecting piece

30 second connecting piece

31 flexible catch flange

32 stationary catch flange

33 first connecting base from cylinder to sidewall

34 second connecting base from cylinder to sidewall

35 first open space between 22 c-22 a

36 second open space under 22 b and between 33 and 34

Turning to the drawings, the preferred embodiment is illustrated anddescribed by reference characters that denote similar elementsthroughout the several views of the instant invention.

The preferred embodiment refers to a system and apparatus that includesa tray 10 that can securely hold one or more small tubes 17 that may ormay not be disposable. In FIG. 1, the tray 10 is seen in perspectiveview. The tray 10 has a front wall 11 a back wall 13 and two sidewalls12, 14. The top 15 of the tray 10 includes a series of apertures 16 inwhich to securely place a tube 17. In the embodiment illustrated here,the tray 10 can house up to fourteen tubes 17, but it is to beunderstood that this number of apertures 16 is for illustration purposesonly as the tray 10 could house any number of tubes 17.

The tip 18 of the tube 17 is placed in the aperture 16. Above the tip 18of the tube is an expanded portion 19 that flares out past the diameterof the tip 18 and the area 20 above the expanded portion 19. Below thebody of the tube 24 and above the area 20 above the expanded portion 19is a shoulder 23 that fits securely in the inventive portion of theaperture 16.

In FIG. 2, the structure of each aperture 16 is seen from the top. FIG.3 shows this structure in greater detail. In the center of the aperture16 is a hole 21 of sufficient diameter to receive the shoulder 23portion of the tube 17. Not seen in FIG. 2 is the cylindrical sidewall27 of the hole 21 which can be seen in FIG. 4. There are three abuttingguides 22 a, 22 b, 22 c that are positioned approximately equidistantfrom each other and rise up a majority of the face of the sidewalls. Thesidewalls on the back portion are taller because the sidewalls of theaperture 16 are not uniform. The back of the aperture 16 is taller thanthe front.

Looking from the top there is shown a flexible member 25 with anabutting flange 31 that is positioned between the guides 22 a, 22 clocated on the back of the aperture 16. This flexible catch 25 is offsetfrom the center cylindrical sidewall 27 but connects to the bottom ofsaid center cylindrical sidewall 27 through two connecting pieces 29, 30located at the bottom of the aperture 16. Open space 35 exists betweenguide 22 c and 22 a both in front of and behind the flexible catch 25.

On the opposite side of the aperture 16 from the flexible catch 25 is astationary catch 28 with an abutting flange 32. Between the stationarycatch 28 and the sidewall of the aperture 16 is a sidewall 26 locatedbetween guides 22 c, 22 b and 22 a creating a closed space rather thanthe open space 35 found in the area surrounding the flexible catch 25.Between the bottom of the aperture 16 and the stationary catch 28 andcorresponding flange 32 is a second open space 36. A first connectingpiece 33 connects the sidewall 26 to the cylindrical sidewall of thehole 27 while a second connecting piece 34 connects the sidewall 26 thecylindrical sidewall of the hole 27 while maintaining the open space 36found therebetween.

To secure a tube 17 in the aperture 16, a user places the tube 17 withthe tube tip 18 facing into the aperture 16. The tube 17 is forced witha small amount of manual force to a point that the shoulder of the tube23 is moved past the flexible flange 31 on the flexible catch 25. Oncethe tube 17 has been moved into this position it is held in place by thestationary catch flange 32 on the stationary catch 28.

The discussion included in this patent is intended to serve as a basicdescription. The reader should be aware that the specific discussion maynot explicitly describe all embodiments possible and alternatives areimplicit. Also, this discussion may not fully explain the generic natureof the invention and may not explicitly show how each feature or elementcan actually be representative or equivalent elements. Again, these areimplicitly included in this disclosure. Where the invention is describedin device-oriented terminology, each element of the device implicitlyperforms a function. It should also be understood that a variety ofchanges may be made without departing from the essence of the invention.Such changes are also implicitly included in the description. Thesechanges still fall within the scope of this invention.

Further, each of the various elements of the invention and claims mayalso be achieved in a variety of manners. This disclosure should beunderstood to encompass each such variation, be it a variation of anyapparatus embodiment, a method embodiment, or even merely a variation ofany element of these. Particularly, it should be understood that as thedisclosure relates to elements of the invention, the words for eachelement may be expressed by equivalent apparatus terms even if only thefunction or result is the same. Such equivalent, broader, or even moregeneric terms should be considered to be encompassed in the descriptionof each element or action. Such terms can be substituted where desiredto make explicit the implicitly broad coverage to which this inventionis entitled. It should be understood that all actions may be expressedas a means for taking that action or as an element which causes thataction. Similarly, each physical element disclosed should be understoodto encompass a disclosure of the action which that physical elementfacilitates. Such changes and alternative terms are to be understood tobe explicitly included in the description.

1. A system for the secure placement and transport of at least one tube,said system comprising fabrication of a tray, said tray furthercomprising a back wall; a front wall; a first side wall; a second sidewall; and at least one aperture for placement therein of said at leastone tube, said at least one aperture further comprising a hole with adiameter that is sufficient to receive said at least one tube; at leastone stationary catch positioned in said at least one aperture thatsecures said at least one tube in place; and at least one flexible catchpositioned in said at least one aperture that secures said at least onetube in place; and placement of at least one tube in said at least oneaperture in said tray, placing said tube therein with sufficient forceto move said tube past said at least one flexible catch and secure saidtube against said at least one stationary catch in said at least oneaperture.
 2. An apparatus for the secure placement and transport of atleast one tube, said apparatus comprising a back wall; a front wall; afirst side wall; a second side wall; and at least one aperture forplacement therein of said at least one tube, said aperture furthercomprising a hole with a diameter that is sufficient to receive said atleast one tube; at least one stationary catch positioned in said atleast one aperture that secures said at least one tube in place; and atleast one flexible catch positioned in said at least one aperture thatsecures said at least one tube in place.